Scientology

[Great Warrior]

I tried to read the scientology book (or is that bible?) Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard.

From what I could gather before tossing the book away was that he believes our unconscious mind picks up everything, sound, touch, smell, and processes it in a very basic and literal way. I think he called these imprints engrams. Anyway, the engrams screw you up as you grow older, and account for any odd behavior, obsessions, compulsions, personality disorders, etc. Example (I recall something like this from the book, but don't quote me) as a unborn in your mom's womb, you could get an bad engram by what is said when you are asleep, even at very early stages of development. I believe the process Hubbard advocates is regressing and reaching deep into the subconcious to remove the bad engrams.

Seemed like smoke and mirrors from a snake oil peddler. And he was a bad SF writer too.

Does anyone have any postive or negative insight?

[Rijuhn]

I think the guy is a dumbass. Your life is what you make it. Scientology is very close to some of the philosophies I travelled through during my teenage years (13-17) and untimately realized that I was a skinny, nerdy, pasty, geek that needed to get a job, listen to athority and just STFU for awhile until I had something important to say. Not enough young people follow what I finally realized and that is where you get this Scientology BS, among other things.

It all stems from people who don't want to be accountable of their actions, so they go to a "specialist" to tell them they have some odd "disorder" that this expensive pill can't cure, but will help correct this "disorder" that they will have to take the rest of their life if they ever want to somewhat function in society again. It's all hogwash and these "specialist" are just greedy swindlers. Scientology is alike in that it's basic principal is "think happy thoughts".

[AlexMax]

In all seriousness, stay the fuck away from scientology.

If you don't beleive me, this site (http://www.xenu.net/) should pretty much give you the facts about scientology. You won't find it on google, because the Church of Scientology sued Google to get it off, and beleive me, indoctrinating people of weak mind and suing people is just about the only two things that scientology is good at.

EDIT: Not anymore, apparently, but Xenu.net is far from the top result when looking for "xenu" (http://www.infoanarchy.org/story/2002/4/13/1258/31858)

[Lilith]

zomg, is this Glenn?

[Great Warrior]

I'm not familiar with Scientology as I was raised in Roman Catholic environment and I watched Access Hollywood with Tom Cruise promoting Scientology. I wondered why movie stars promoted sects or religions. Tom Cruise is nuts and for him to suggest that seriously mentally ill individuals forgo their meds and take "vitamins" borders on criminal. I will never see a film of his again. Freak!

[Verman]

How can you put any stock in a religion or belief that was created as part of a competition?

Hubbard and another guy (I can't remember for the life of me who), wanted to see who could make up the best religion and whoever did it would be published. Well Hubbard (of battlefield earth fame) won! So there we have this stupid belief :P

I'll do some reasearch so i can rememer that other guys name.

geez. me and my stupid memory.

Now if you want something interesting, try the chaos theory, its just cool!

[Belgarath]

I watched Access Hollywood with Tom Cruise promoting Scientology.

My tv was on for that as well. His explanation sounded very basic, but then again look at his life right now. You may not like the idea but he does have millions of dollars and is dateing somebody about half his age. That alone should tell you that we should look at this objectivly even if your against it.

I'm not saying agree with it, but all coins have two sides.

[Great Warrior]

His millions and dating records are because of Scientology or a result of his acting roles?


I didn’t find the name of the other writer, but I found 2 very enlightening websites.

http://freespace.virgin.net/seant.ellis/scientology.htm

http://www.lermanet.com/cos/comedy.html?FACTNet


Taken from the websites:

What would you get if you cross breed a Borg with a Ferengi?
Answer - a scientologist...

Why is Scientology a Threat?
On the face of it, Scientology should almost certainly be just another minority religious cult, but there are a few features that have really contributed to its visibility on the net.
The first is the Scientologists' dictum: "Never defend, always attack". Most active net citizens are curious individuals, who want to know more about things. As questionable facts about Scientology emerged, people started to ask questions. Rather than clamming up, the Scientologists attacked with a tirade of abuse, threats, and lawsuits.
In order to protect themselves, Scientologists have the "fair game" rule. Anyone who opposes Scientology is fair game for any defamatory tactic, inside or outside the law.
The same two rules are most ruthlessly applied to anyone trying to disclose the "church secrets".

[slothman]

....

EDIT: Not anymore, apparently, but Xenu.net is far from the top result when looking for "xenu" (http://www.infoanarchy.org/story/2002/4/13/1258/31858)

I just did a search pf "xenu" and got "http://www.xenu.net/" as the third item.

I haven't done much research on scientology but most people I've read don't like it. I don't know why it's just a regular cult. I mean it doesn't make you commit suicide of anything. :D

[Belgarath]

His millions and dating records are because of Scientology or a result of his acting roles?


He said on the TV special that he was one before "Top Gun" - the first movie that made him big - and that it helped him advance his acting job. So he was a scientoligist before he had the fame, not after.